Experimental Generation of 1.1-kA Gyrating Electron Beam Current From an Explosive Emission Cathode Magnetron Injection Gun

Most high-power gyrotrons are driven by the thermal cathodes, and the output power can only reach megawatt (MW) level. In the present study, a single anode explosive emission cathode (EEC) magnetron injection gun (MIG) with the high beam current, the pitch radio of 1.2 and the controlled beam velocity spread was designed. At the peak voltage of 300 kV, the peak beam current of 1.1 kA and pulsewidth of 170 ns were emitted by a carbon fiber array (CFA) emitter. Compared to the reported EEC MIG, large beam loss was avoided in this experiment. The guiding center radius of 14.1 mm was close to the simulation results. CFA has the stronger emission capability, the lower emission threshold electric field, and the better emission uniformity than sharpened edge graphite (SEG), so it is suggested as the emitter of the EEC MIG.